Ashes to Beauty

Hopelessly Devoted

I am a woman of many moods and they all require chocolate. If chocolate were prescribed for feelings, maybe dark chocolate would be given for occasional bouts of depression. With financial trouble, possibly chewy caramel and nuts with milk chocolate, or for stress – semi-sweet chocolate with rice krispies. So many emotions and so many chocolates, so little time. But am I hopelessly devoted to chocolate? Hardly. Though today’s variety of chocolate enticements might offer me a temporary emotional escape, the chocolate hangover and extra pounds are definitely not worth the indulgence.

Good ole Webster’s defines ‘devoted’ as a verb – a person who is set apart for a purpose. Hmmm, when you put it that way, I guess I am not as devoted to chocolate as I thought I was. Chocolate can never solve any of my problems. Although the chocolate fix might be fun and satisfying for a moment, it’s definitely not a healthy way to cope. We are all devoted to something or someone, our job, to our husband, children, church, God. But just how devoted are we?

I remember an article in my local newspaper that talked about a couple who showed our community what faithful devotion looks like.

Darlene was a 48-year-old woman whose dying wish was to be married to her sweetheart, Scott. Darlene had stopped her anti-cancer treatments a short time before the couple expressed their love and commitment to each other at their wedding ceremony on February 8, 2009. The article states, “As the bride and groom turned to each other at the ceremony, the bitterness of the disease seemed to melt away for a moment, even for an eternity.” Toward the end, as Darlene’s cancer took over her body; succumbing to the disease, she could not speak or even communicate with her new husband by blinking her eyes. Her new husband never left her side. He read her Bible verses, held her and comforted her. Darlene died peacefully, in the arms of her new husband, twelve days after they were married. Now that’s hopeless devotion.

Jesus’ dying wish was for you to know God’s love. In John 17:23, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” When we choose to believe God loves us, it makes a difference in every decision we make and every turn we take.

God is hopelessly devoted to you. God sent his son, Jesus, as His messenger to show how much He loves you. He is absolutely crazy in love with you. He keeps you safe in His arms of love. He has an important plan for you. God affirms this love in Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness.” God loved you before time began; He will love you for all eternity.

What does God’s devotion to you look like? It’s God giving His Son, Jesus, to die in your place. I John 4:10says, “This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” God is hopelessly devoted to you. Now it’s your turn.

Hopelessly devoted to God? It’s entirely possible; it is a choice we make every day, to believe God loves us and to walk into our devotion to Him one step at a time. We can show God how devoted we are to Him through an attitude of trust. If we are tested, the impetus comes when our faith is tested. “T-Total, R-Reliance, U-Under, S-Stress and T-Trials” is an acrostic I use to gauge whether or not I am truly leaning on the power of God. When I have peace during chaos and turn to prayer in the midst of my anxiousness, I know God’s presence and power is providing peace for me. In fact, I can even say no to the temptation of overeating semi-sweet chocolate with rice krispies to relieve my stress! Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost for His Highest says, “You can never be the same after the unveiling of a truth. That moment marks you as one who either continues on with even more devotion as a disciple of Jesus Christ, or as one who turns to back as a deserter.” You and I have a choice. Won’t you make a recommitment right now to be hopelessly devoted to the One who is hopelessly crazy about YOU! What are you waiting for?